Combined step and journal bearing.



APPLICATION FILED DEC 30, 190B Patented June 15,1909.

F/Gr/ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

COMBINED STEP AND JOURNAL BEARING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 16, 1909.

Application filed December 30, 1908. Serial No. 469,996.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADoLPH DEHNE, a

citizen of the German Empire, residing at Beeskowerstrasse 11-12, Frankfort-on-the- Oder, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Step and Journal Bearings; and I do hereby de clare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention.

My invention relates to improvements in com ined resilient step and journal bearings for vertical shafts revolving at high speeds, suchfor exam le as shafts of centrifugal machines. Anthe object of the improve ments is to provide a bearing which is adapted to take up the. Weight of the bowl and the pressure of the vertical shaft, and

thereby to permit a noiseless rotation of the bowl.

A further object of the improvements is to so construct the bearing, that a special ste hearing at the bottom end of the shaft is isp'ensed with, which step bearing is substituted by a guide for the shaft. For this purmrs eithe bearing is resiliently supported inaTertical and horizontal direction.

For the purpose of ex laining the invention, an embodiment of t e principles thereof is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 represents a vertical cross-section of the bearing of a centrifugal machine, and Fig. 2 represents a horizontal cross-section taken on the'line AA of Fig. 1.

In the example shown, the vertical shaft 1 of the bowl of the centrifugal machine is provided with a flange 2 having a conical ower face, roviding an upper ball race for balls 3. 'lilre lower ball race is provided by a ring 4 forming the bearing box. The latter is surrounded by a sleeve 5 having several longitudinal grooves about its oil'- cumference. Within the said grooves, springso are secured to" the sleeve 5 and to the ring 4 by means of a ring 7. The whole construction is located within a cup sha ed sleeve 8 secured within the frame of t e centrifugal machine.

The shape of the-springs 6 is such, that 'they are adapted to take up-the vertical shocks of the shaft and the horizontal oscillations of the l)' 0Wl of the centrifugal machine. If, for example, the driving mechanism for the machine is irregularly operated, a pressure is exerted on the shaft and thereby, through the intermediary of the conical flange 2 and the balls 3, on the ring 4. The latter, however, is supported on the springs 6. Therefore, the variations of the pressure are transmitted to the coiled ends 6 of the springs, and the arms 6 areslight-ly bent. When the ressure is released, the ball race is moved iiackward in its normal position by the resiliency of the springs. In case of lateral oscillations of the bowl, the pressure is transmitted to the coiled ends 6 of the springs. The springs may have any suitable form. But in any case, only one of the ends thereof must have a bottom support, while the opposite ends are not supported in a vertical direction.

As the resiliently supported and perfectly balanced ball race provides the only support for the whole construction, the conical flange, the balls, and the ball race have a uniform bearing support on one another, so that a noiseless operation of the shaft is obtained.

I claim:

In a journal bearing for vertical shafts, in combination, a bearing box comprising a ring having a ball race and a sleeve surrounding said ring, a cup shaped sleeve having an annular shoulder surrounding said bearing box, and springs secured near their lower ends to the bearing box and having coiled upper ends laterally supported in the annular shoulder of said cup-shaped sleeve, said springs forming a resilient supporting means for said bearing box, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof i hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ADOLPH DEHNE.

Witnesses HENRY HASPER, WoLDEMAa HAUPT. 

